Pool-ball rack



March 17, 1931. R M D 1,796,722

POOL BALL RACK I Filed Sept. 12. 1929 Patented Mar. 17, 1931 PATENT tJFFl'ClTfi RAY M. READ, OF SFRINGFIELD, MISSOURI POOL-BALL RACK Application filed September 12, 1929. Serial No. 392,182.

The present invention is directed to improvements in pool hall racks.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device of this character having combined therewith a sheet of leather or the like so arranged that the balls when placed in the rack will not come in contact with the covering of the table which, as is well known, soon becomes hardened when con stantly receiving the impact of the balls being racked.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character so constructed that the rack can be moved forwardly in spotting the balls upon the table, the rearward movement of the rack serving to release the protective sheet so that the balls can be released from the rack when said rack is lifted from the table.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rack of this character so constructed that the protective sheet can be easily and quickly unrolled for use and will be automatically released and re-rolled upon shifting of the rack.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is exceedingly simple in construction, efficient in operation, durable and one which can be manufactured at a minimum cost.

With these and other objects in view, this invention resides in the novel features of construction, formation, combination and ar rangement of parts to'be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the rack, showing the sheet in its operative position.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation showing the casing confining the roller, broken away.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates the rack which, as is customary, consists of divergingly arranged side bars 2 and an end bar 3. At the point where the side bars merge, a chamber 4 is formed in which is mounted a bar 5, said bar having notches 6 formed adjacent each end. The ends of the chamber 4 are closed by plates 7 said plates being secured in any appropriate manner and having rectangular openings 8 formed therein to receive the ends of the bar 5, and since the bar 5 is rectangular in cross section, the same will be prevented from turning within the chamber but may slide therein.

The bar 5 is of such length that one end or the other thereof will extend from the end of the chamber i, the purpose of which will appear later.

The bar 3 supports brackets 9 which support the spring controlled roller 10. The roller has wind able thereon a protective sheet 11 which is triangular in outline and formed of leather or any other material suitable for the purpose. The apex of the sheet is provided with a sheet metal plate 12 having an opening 13 therein adapted to engage an extended end of the bar 5.

The roller 10 is provided with. a recoil mechanism l-ilwhich will limit the rolling); of the sheet thereon in order that the plate 12 will not pass through the slot 15 formed in the bar 2-3, when the sheet is re-rolled, thereby preventing the plate 12 from entering the slot and being rendered inaccessible. A resilient bar 16 is supported by the bar 3 adjacent the slot and carries a roller 17 to enthe sheet 11 to prevent back lash thereof when being rcwound. A bowed spring; 18 is mounted in the chamher 4: and bears against the bar so that one of the notches 6 will be engaged with a plate 7 to hold one end of the bar extended in order that the same may engage in the opening; 13 of the plate 12 to hold the sheet unrolled and stretched within the confines of the rack.

As shown in Figure 3, the plate 12 is engaged with an extended end of the bar 5 in order to hold the sheet taut.

The rack is then placed upon the table and the balls placedtherein, whereupon the rack is moved forwardly for spotting the balls. Obviously, when the rack is moved rearwardly and a slight pressure exerted thereon, the extended end of the bar will be shifted forwardly slightly so that the notch (3 thereof will disengage the plate 12 and further pressure upon the rack will cause the bar to slide upwardly so that the plate will be disengaged therefrom, whereupon the roller will rewind the sheet so that the balls will rest upon th cloth of the table. In this manner, the cloth of the table will not receive the impact of the balls when the same are placed in the rack.

Since the bar 5 is slidable in the chamber, either end may be extended for engagement with the plate 12. The bar is provided with pins 19 adjacent each end which serve to limit the sliding movement thereof within the chamber.

A sheet metal casing 20 is suitably secured to the bar 8 so as to enclose the roller and its associated parts.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the operation and many advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without further description and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, materials and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a pool ball rack, of a spring actuated roller carried thereby, a sheet windable upon the roller, and means for holding, the sheet unwound from the roller, the holding means being releasable under pressure applied to the rack to permit the sheet-to rewind upon the roller.

2. The combination with a pool hall rack, of a spring actuated roller carried thereby, a sheet windable upon the roller, a bar carried by the rack, and means carried by the sheet for engaging one end of the bar whereby the sheet may be held unwound from the roller, said bar being operable for releasing the sheet under pressure applied to the rack to perm-it rewinding of the sheet upon the roller.

3. The combination with a pool ball rack, of a spring actuated roller carried thereby, a sheet windable upon the roller, a plate carried by the sheet and having an opening therein a bar slidable in the rack and means for holdin one end of the bar extended. from the rack for engaging the opening of the plate to hold the sheet unwound from the roller, said her being movable under pressure applied to the rack to disengage the extended end thereof from the opening to permit rewinding of the sheet upon the roller; H y

4. The combination with a pool hall rack, of a spring roller carried thereby, 'a sheet windable upon the roller means for holding the sheet unwound from the roller and stretched within the rack, and means whereby movement of the rack in one direction while downward pressure is applied thereto will release the holding means to permit the 7 sheet to rewind upon the roller.

of a spring controlled roller carried thereby, a bar slidably mounted in the rack and adapted to have one end extended therefrom, means for holding the bar with one end extended, a sheet windable upon the roller, and means carried by the sheet for engagement with the extended end of the bar to hold the siieet stretched within the rack, said bar be ing slidable within the rack when the rack is moved in one direction while downward pressure is applied thereto to release the sheet to permitthe same to rewind upon the roller. I

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. 

